ZESCO United F.C.

ZESCO United Football Club (Simply often known as ZESCO) is a Zambian professional football club based in Ndola in Zambia, that competes in the Zambia Super League, Founded in 1974. The team plays its home matches at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

ZESCO UNITED
Full nameZESCO United Football Club
Nickname(s)Zega Mambo, Team Ya Ziko
Short nameZesco
Founded1 January 1974 (1974-01-01)
StadiumLevy Mwanawasa Stadium
Capacity49,800
OwnerZESCO
ChairmanAndy Gray
ManagerRichard Keys
LeagueZambia Super League
WebsiteClub website

The club is wholly owned and sponsored by the state owned electricity supplier ZESCO.[1]

History and records

ZESCO United was founded in 1974. They became the first Zambian club to qualify for the CAF African Champions League Group stage in 2009. ZESCO United are one of only 3 Zambian clubs including Nkana and Green Buffaloes who hold an all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian opposition. ZESCO United also became the first Zambian Club this century to play against European opposition when they played against Zenit Saint Petersburg in Abu Dhabi in 2008.

They reached their first ever semi finals of the CAF African Champions League after a 2–2 draw away to Egyptian league champions Al Ahly in Matchday 5 of the Champions' League quarter final group stage.[2]

They extended their all time unbeaten home record against non Zambian teams to 26 games on Saturday, 17 September 2016, after a 2–1 home win against South African league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF African Champions League.[3]

The club also created history by being the first Zambian club to sign Asian players, with Kosuke Nakamichi from Japan and Malaysia's Marcel Kalonda.

Achievements
2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2019
2007, 2011, 2015 ,2017
2006
2007
1980, 2003

Performance in CAF competitions
2008 – Last 32
2009 – Group stage (Top 8)
2011 – Last 16
2015 – Last 32
2016 – Semi-finals
2018 – Group stage (Top 16)
2006 – Last 32
2010 – First Round
2013 – Last 16
2017 – Quarter-finals

Players

Current squad

As of 2 February 2019.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ZAM Jacob Banda (Captain)
2 DF  ZAM Bernard Mapili
3 DF  NGA Ayo Oluwafemi
4 DF  CIV Ben Adama Banh (Vice-captain)
5 DF  ZAM Nyambe Mulenga
6 MF  ZAM Simon Silwimba
7 DF  ZAM Shemmy Mayembe
8 MF  ZAM Maybin Mwaba
9 MF  JPN Kosuke Nakamachi
10 FW  ZAM Lazarous Kambole
11 MF  ZAM John Ching'andu
12 FW  ZAM Bornwell Silengo
13 MF  ZAM Misheck Chaila
14 FW  ZAM Jackson Mwanza (Vice-captain)
15 DF  KEN David Owino
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  ZAM Brown Nyrienda
18 MF  ZAM Kondwani Mtonga
17 FW  UGA Davis Kasirye
21 DF  ZAM Dauti Musekwa
22 MF  ZAM Mwape Mwelwa
23 DF  ZAM Samson Banda
24 MF  ZAM Matthews Nkhowani
25 FW  KEN Jesse Were
27 FW  ZAM Lottie Bwalya
28 GK  ZAM Lameck Nyangu
29 DF  ZAM Emmanuel Mayuka
30 DF  ZAM Lupiya Kasashi
— DF  MAS Marcel Kalonda
— FW  ZAM Humphrey Maseneko

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ZAM Innocent Mwaba (on loan to Forest Rangers)
No. Pos. Nation Player

All Time Top Scorers
Name Number of Goals
Eston Sakuwaha 156
Winston Kalengo 58

References
  1. "Zesco Utd embrace big bus theory". Lusaka Times. 2013-05-27. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  2. "Africa: Success Story Coming From Zambian Club Zesco Utd in African Club Championship".
  3. "Puncherello Chama gives his analysis of Zesco's win over Sundowns in the African Champions League semi-final 1st leg".
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